Episode 165: The Tokyo Anecdote [Best Films of 2016 So Far; Venice and Toronto Festival Preview]
It’s Episode 165 of In the Mood for Podcast!
After an eight-month absence, Irini joins Cal to discuss all that cinema has had to offer us in 2016 so far, with both giving their favourite five films and performances of the year, and discussing their personal highlights. With Irini heading to Venice and Cal heading to Toronto, there’s plenty to be excited about concerning festival season. We dig into our biggest hopes from the festivals, and look ahead to year-end releases from Ang Lee and Martin Scorsese, among others. Elsewhere, there’s a Lobster-related story from the heart of Japan, trepidation over Xavier Dolan’s latest cinematic effort fails to faze Irini, and some unexpected virtues of Jaden Smith are revealed.
Best of 2016:
- Counting down our top five films of the year so far!
[10:30 – 23:15]
2016 Round-Up:
- Favourite performances, personal highlights, and discussing what films so far may be in the running for year-end awards!
[23:20 – 43:30]
Festival Previews and Anticipation:
- Discussing our biggest hopes from the Venice and Toronto Film Festival lineups, and anticipating end-of-year releases!
[43:35 – 1:06:50]
Intro Music: Channing Tatum, “No Dames”
Outro Music: Dev, “Fireball”
Episode 90: Celtic Confusion [Under the Skin; The Past; The Zero Theorem]
Episode 90: Celtic Confusion
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It’s Episode 90 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
The podcast is back after a fortnight’s absence with some St. Patrick’s day cheer, but will we be cheering in response to this week’s films? Asghar Farhadi fans may want to beware, as we review French language drama “The Past,” while those who helped kick-start a movie adaptation of TV show “Veronica Mars” will have to deal with a fresh take on the crime caper. Pete’s seen another quirky Tilda Swinton film this week in Terry Gilliam’s “The Zero Theorem,” before Cal reveals whether the second half of Lars Von Trier’s “Nymphomaniac” lived up to the educational might of the first. Jonathan Glazer’s shady “Under the Skin” gets us discussing (among other things) why meeting Scarlett Johansson in a nightclub is a very bad omen, and which football team’s fans bears the brunt of her seduction. The usual digressions occur, as we’re forced to address the original Huston Problem, Pete’s trepidation for an upcoming Dostoyevsky adaptation, and which TV shows we’d love to see a big-screen version of. We offer a quick lesson on grammatical composition, the Earth threatens to fall off its axis when Cal associates Katy Perry with Bjork, and Cillian Murphy throws a spanner in the works of this week’s Watson Factor. It’s all about the Celts.
Introduction and news
Preconception Corner
- The Past
- Veronica Mars
- The Zero Theorem
- Nymphomaniac: Part II
[13:40 – 51:20]
Closing Segment: Our take on Jonathan Glazer’s “Under the Skin,” and discussing films set in Glasgow
[51:25 – 1:07:10]
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Beach Boys, “Caroline No”
Episode 68: Taking No Prisoners [Prisoners; Blue Jasmine; Runner Runner]
Episode 68: Taking No Prisoners
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It’s Episode 68 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
This week we’re talking “Prisoners” but not taking any, as Denis Villeneuve’s first foray into the studio system leaves at least one of us distinctly unimpressed. Pete interrupts Cal’s plot run-down of the film with his best Paul Dano impression, while we dig into the hilarity of Melissa Leo, and cite the worst performances from actors in every film this week. Elsewhere, Pete gives his take on Italy’s official Oscar submission “The Great Beauty,” which features some interesting pubic design work, and Cal responds to Pete’s abandonment of Gemma Arterton by braving Latin-set thriller “Runner Runner.” We spend ages talking about Cate Blanchett’s Oscar-tipped turn in “Blue Jasmine,” and ponder Sally Hawkins’ chances of finally getting that overdue nod. How this didn’t turn into a bitching session about 2008’s Best Actress line-up is anyone’s guess.
The Week’s News:
- Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher” pushed to 2014
- Foreign Language Oscar submissions: Egypt submit “Winter of Discontent”; Denmark submit “The Hunt”; Iran submit “The Past,” Cambodia submit “The Missing Picture”; Israel submit “Bethlehem”; Italy submit “The Great Beauty”
[2:20 – 14:50]
Reviews of:
- The Great Beauty
- Blue Jasmine
- Runner Runner
[22:20 – 53:00]
Closing Segment: Our take on Denis Villeneuve’s sobering drama “Prisoners,” and discussing our least favourite performances from this week’s crop of actors! [53:05 – 1:12:25]
The Watson Factor
The Poupaud Range
Outro Music: Blondie, “Denis”
In the Mood for Podcast 
